"I think..."
Kabuto hesitantly glanced at the confident Akihara Kagura and carefully asked, "Compared to becoming a traitorous ninja, perhaps Danzo would rather choose suicide?"
"Wouldn't that be a good thing?"
Akihara Kagura spread out his hands and continued, "If Danzo defects, then it has nothing to do with us; if Danzo commits suicide, then it also has nothing to do with us. Either way, it's unrelated to us..."
"This..."
Kabuto furrowed his brows tightly.
Something seems a bit off with that reasoning, doesn't it?
"Lord Kagura!"
An Anbu Ninja came to the Root Base and conveyed Sarutobi Hiruzen's orders to Akihara Kagura: "The Hokage orders you to immediately proceed to the Hokage Tower!"
"I'll head there right away."
Akihara Kagura raised his hand to dismiss the Anbu Ninja.
"Alright, I'm off to attend the meeting at the Hokage Tower first."
Akihara Kagura adjusted his ninja headband and instructed Kabuto, "There are some accounts in the Root that I don't quite understand. You can help me with the budget and also take this month's funds to the Konoha Orphanage. That way, Yamanaka Fuu won't have to make another trip..."
"I got it."
Kabuto sighed helplessly.
Konoha Village.
In the Hokage Tower.
When Akihara Kagura arrived, Sarutobi Hiruzen and two Hokage Advisors were already there, and all three had slightly solemn expressions.
"The Fourth Mizukage has committed suicide."
Sarutobi Hiruzen announced a piece of news that was already expected by many.
"..."
Akihara Kagura had also anticipated this.
Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura had long harbored thoughts of suicide. During his time under the control of Uchiha Obito, the policies he executed led to significant losses within the Hidden Mist Village. If not for Konoha insisting on bringing him over as a guest for a while, he probably would have already taken his own life...
"The Konoha S-Class Traitorous Ninja Uchiha Itachi and an S-Class Traitorous Ninja from the Hidden Mist Village, Biwa Juzo, infiltrated the Land of Water and fought with Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura. Biwa Juzo was killed by the Mizukage in the battle, and Uchiha Itachi once again used the Sharingan to control Karatachi Yagura..."
"And then..."
"That Mizukage returned and chose to commit suicide."
"The Hidden Mist Village hopes to form a United Pursuing Ninja Team with Konoha to hunt down the Konoha S-Class Traitorous Ninjas Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Itachi, along with the Hidden Mist Village's S-Class Traitorous Ninja Hoshigaki Kisame..."
"I quite agree with this..."
"No matter what, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito pose a tremendous threat. Someone must track them down to prevent bringing more disaster to the Ninja World..."
After Sarutobi Hiruzen brought this matter up, his gaze shifted to Akihara Kagura, then quickly moved away, seemingly afraid that Akihara Kagura would take on this task voluntarily: "However, Kagura cannot leave Konoha. It won't be easy for us to find a suitable candidate..."
Konoha had conducted a pursuit of the traitor Uchiha Obito for a while.
At that time, the main members were Kakashi Hatake, Akihara Kagura, and Uchiha Itachi. Due to Akihara Kagura's continuous maneuvers, it nearly triggered the Fourth Ninja World War.
"This matter is actually quite dangerous."
Akihara Kagura furrowed his brows and expressed his opinion: "Both Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Itachi possess the Bloodline Mangekyo Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan. Those who wield the Mangekyo Sharingan have mysterious abilities. Even I can't ensure victory against them, and the Hidden Mist Village might not have anyone who can face them..."
To be honest.
Akihara Kagura really wanted to recommend Lord Danzo; however, recommending Lord Danzo at this time might seem like sending him to his death...
"That's indeed the case..."
Utatane Koharu nodded and sighed, "It's understandable that the Hidden Mist Village is eager for revenge, but it's sending innocent people to their deaths..."
"I plan to send Kakashi..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen proposed a candidate and continued, "Kakashi has always wanted to trace Uchiha Obito's whereabouts, and since he was once Uchiha Itachi's Anbu Captain, he also has a certain understanding of Uchiha Itachi..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had already made up his mind because Uchiha Itachi was a spy for Konoha and wouldn't harm Kakashi Hatake, and might even secretly pass on intelligence to him.
"I could go with Kakashi..."
The proposal made by Akihara Kagura was immediately rejected by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"No."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, holding his pipe, decisively made his decision, "I've already decided on this matter."
Mitokado Homura glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen and frowned, "If that's the case, won't that reduce the manpower of the Anbu? Konoha has just gone through a disturbance..."
"We can transfer personnel from the Root."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Akihara Kagura beside him.
"I don't have any objections."
Akihara Kagura nodded, having no opinion on this, and seized the opportunity to raise an issue: "But, I don't know if Lord Danzo will have any objections. The Root members are still more accustomed to operating under Lord Danzo's leadership; after all, he is the founder of the Root..."
"How about letting Danzo participate too?"
Mitokado Homura offered his idea, actively saying, "Since we don't want Danzo to continue having too much power within the village, why not let him out to pursue the traitorous ninja? The Root ninjas are his old subordinates and will surely follow his orders..."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was suddenly silent.
Under normal circumstances, Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally didn't want Shimura Danzo to regain power and cause incidents. However, regarding this matter, it seemed quite suitable for Shimura Danzo...
Firstly...
This matter involves dealing with affairs outside the village.
Secondly...
Shimura Danzo knows that Uchiha Itachi is a spy for Konoha.
Moreover, hearing Akihara Kagura mention issues regarding the Root, the Root ninjas seem to consistently disobey him, but adhere to Shimura Danzo's orders...
"I will consider this further."
Sarutobi Hiruzen intended to defer this matter.
"Could we perhaps..."
Akihara Kagura glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, presenting an idea, "Once the United Pursuing Ninja Team of Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village is established, there will certainly be a manpower shortfall. Since the Root is initially a training ground for the Anbu, why not integrate a batch of Root ninjas into the Anbu..."
"In fact, some of them don't often follow my orders. Some are even more senior than I am and only wish to follow Lord Danzo's commands..."
This isn't untrue.
Indeed, many in the Root have been thoroughly brainwashed and controlled by Shimura Danzo for many years, becoming his die-hard loyalists, intent on continuing to serve Shimura Danzo. Even Yamanaka Fuu hasn't been able to reprogram them.
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen unmoved, Akihara Kagura resorted to a drastic measure: "Sometimes, I even think about just getting rid of them since they're practically useless..."
"Don't resort to such extreme measures!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen hastily stopped Akihara Kagura, sternly saying, "You should pick a team and send them to the Anbu..."
As Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, a sudden flicker appeared in his eyes, "But, if we do this, there might not be enough personnel left in the Root..."
"..."
Akihara Kagura finally realized the cunning nature of this Hokage, loftily saying, "The existence of the Root has its significance. I'm still young and can gradually select and train some young folks or those who wish to protect Konoha from the shadows..."
Seizing the opportunity, Akihara Kagura planted a seed: "Before Lord Danzo retired, he left a batch of children undergoing extreme training in the Root. Some of these children I've sent to the orphanage, while others, the more capable ones, I plan to cultivate slowly..."